Private Prospect may be vulnerable in Arlington-Washington Futurity
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
On accomplishment, Private Prospect is three times more advanced than the seven opponents he faces Saturday in the Arlington-Washington Futurity. But by talent, Beyer Speed Figures, and the eye test, Private Prospect’s edge looks less clear, and the Grade 3, $125,000 Futurity, a seven-furlong Polytrack race, appears to be contentious.
Private Prospect was claimed by trainer Mike Campbell and owner George Mellon for $50,000 out of a winning debut here June 26 and went on to win two stakes at Prairie Meadows. To some extent, he has been his own worst enemy. Twice, he has acted up in the paddock, and in his most recent race, he ducked out from left-handed whipping, nearly costing himself victory.
“He was an adolescent when we claimed him,” Campbell said. “Through two months now, he’s developing.”
Trainer Mike Stidham has two entrants, the debut maiden winner One Go All Go and Ike Walker, who finished fourth racing 5 1/2 furlongs in his debut before breaking through with a seven-furlong Arlington maiden score Aug. 7.
“We knew going 5 1/2 [furlongs] he’d have no chance, but we wanted to get him some experience,” Stidham said. “We got what we needed.”
One Go All Go won a $62,500 maiden claimer but has ample talent, and Stidham expects a mere two-week break between starts to work well. One Go All Go came through along the rail with a mid-race move and opened up to win by more than five lengths, galloping out with good energy.
Recount, trained by Jim DiVito, cruised to an easy debut victory at Arlington before finishing third – hung wide from off the pace – behind Private Prospect in Iowa. DiVito said he expected Recount to race nearer to the lead last time, and it’s likely Recount shows more speed again Saturday.
Recount comfortably handled Bourbon Cowboy in their common debut, but the latter returned to win a maiden race Aug. 8 by more than four lengths and is proven from off the pace.
Key contenders
One Go All Go (Last Beyer: 69)
* Trainer Stidham thinks the quick turnaround after a debut maiden win is a positive, calling the colt’s debut win “a tune-up.”
* Finished strongly and galloped out well in his six-furlong debut. Should like the longer distance.
Recount (Last 2 Beyers: 64-85)
* Surprisingly off the pace last time at Prairie Meadows after racing on the lead in easy debut win over Arlington Polytrack.
* 85 Beyer from debut equals highest 2-year-old male speed figure this Arlington meet.
Private Prospect (Last 3 Beyers: 67-67-65)
* Quirky but game and determined, he holds an experience edge.
* Has not improved significantly after three starts, and others might have greater upside.
Lassie (race 7)
Trainer Bill Helmbrecht won the 2002 Arlington-Washington Lassie with a maiden filly named Moonlight Sonata, who paid $122.60. If Helmbrecht wins a second Lassie on Saturday, it will be far less surprising.
The big price on Quality Rocks, in fact, came in her career debut, an Aug. 13 maiden race at Presque Isle Downs, which she won by more than four lengths at odds of 21-1.
“We expected her to run good, but you never know,” Helmbrecht said.
Quality Rocks, like Private Prospect in the Futurity, is a filly who takes some work. Helmbrecht called her “cantankerous” but said she has settled down considerably. When she came to his barn on a van from Florida, Quality Rocks kicked most of the trip, but when shipping to Arlington on Monday, she stayed quiet. Helmbrecht’s son, Cesar Chavez, gallops the filly, and he took her to the gate every day for more than a month to prepare for her debut.
Quality Rocks still races barefoot. She cannot abide having her back end handled and has not yet been shod.
Quirks aside, the filly can run. By Rock Hard Ten, Quality Rocks has scope and substance, and Helmbrecht thinks she’s a route horse in waiting, but she had enough speed to make the lead going 5 1/2 furlongs at Presque Isle. No one challenged Quality Rocks, who powerfully galloped out past the finish.
“We don’t think she’s going to be a speed horse, though,” Helmbrecht said. “[Kickback] hitting in her in the face has not been a problem.”
A settle-and-finish trip might be the right one for the $100,000 Lassie, another seven-furlong race. Sarah Sis and Puntsville both showed good speed racing on the lead in last-start maiden victories. Trainer Christine Janks, who wonders if seven furlongs will stretch Puntsville, called her filly “very fast and aggressive.”
Lemon Gala finished nine lengths behind Puntsville when they met July 10, but one month later, she came with a solid rally inside, then between foes for a 3 1/2-length maiden win of her own. There’s a sense Quality Rocks can race successfully from behind, but Lemon Gala, a daughter of Lemon Drop Kid who should improve with distance, already showed she can.
Key contenders
Quality Rocks (Last Beyer: 76)
* She’s hot tempered and high strung but reportedly shipped well early this week. Watch closely in post parade and paddock.
* Won debut on the lead but has worked behind other horses without issue during training.
Lemon Gala (Last 2 Beyers: 62-54)
* Bred for more distance than she’s yet gotten and showed in maiden win she’s comfortable rallying from off the pace and behind horses.
Sarah Sis (Last Beyer: 82)
* Highest speed figure in the race but looks like a speedy sprint type who could be susceptible to a duel with the equally quick Puntsville.